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Seeking comments on TRAI’s Consultation Paper on Differential Pricing for Data Services

Seeking comments on TRAI’s Consultation Paper on Differential Pricing for Data Services
Start Date :
Dec 10, 2015
Last Date :
Jan 15, 2016
00:00 AM IST (GMT +5.30 Hrs)
Submission Closed

The past few years have witnessed tremendous growth in data usage and quite a large number of data tariff offers are made available by the service providers. The regulatory ...

The past few years have witnessed tremendous growth in data usage and quite a large number of data tariff offers are made available by the service providers. The regulatory guidelines till now on discrimination and transparency in tariff offers were more focused to address the regulatory concerns in voice telephony. The growth of data usage and the manner in which data schemes are being designed by service providers currently, calls for a re-look at the regulatory principles of non-discriminatory tariff and transparency measures in the context of data tariff offers.

It has come to the notice of TRAI that some service providers are offering differential data tariff with free or discounted tariffs to certain contents of certain websites/applications/platforms. The objective of offering such schemes is claimed to be the desire of various service providers/content providers or platform providers to enable the consumers, especially the poor, to access certain content on the internet free of charge.
Where reduced rates are tied to specific content, potentially, both positive and negative effects arise from an economic and regulatory perspective. On the one hand, it appears to make overall internet access more affordable by reducing costs of certain types of content. On the other hand, several negative effects might ensue. Differential tariffs results in classification of subscribers based on the content they want to access (those who want to access non-participating content will be charged at a higher rate than those who want to access participating content). This may potentially go against the principle of non-discriminatory tariff.
Therefore, the potential benefits and disadvantages of such practices have to be weighed in order to determine the regulatory approach.

In this background, TRAI has issued a consultation paper on the issue of differential pricing for data services seeking comments from stakeholders on certain issues as enumerated below:

i. Should the TSPs be allowed to have differential pricing for data usage for accessing different websites, applications or platforms?

ii. If differential pricing for data usage is permitted, what measures should be adopted to ensure that the principles of non-discrimination, transparency, affordable internet access, competition and market entry and innovation are addressed?

iii. Are there alternative methods/technologies/business models, other than differentiated tariff plans, available to achieve the objective of providing free internet access to the consumers? If yes, please suggest/describe these methods/technologies/business models. Also, describe the potential benefits and disadvantages associated with such methods/technologies/business models?

Through this forum of My Gov, TRAI invites the comments of the stakeholders on the above issues by 7th January, 2015.

Consultation Paper on Differential Pricing for Data Services

Showing 1056 Submission(s)
E AKILAN
E AKILAN 9 years 6 months ago

Initially I was carried away by the one-sided propaganda of facebook for Free Basics. But after getting a chance to read opinions opposed to the scheme, I do realise that the scheme will only endanger net neutrality and will pave way for the monopoly of a behemoth over internet in India. I, therefore, would like to express my support for maintenance of status quo on this issue.

raajeish99@gmail.com
Raajeish Shah 9 years 6 months ago

Introduce Portability For DTH Services... A MUST...

Facility To RECORD Broadcasts On External USB Devices Is a MUST...

Required For PROOF AGAINST CORRUPT Politicians, Bureaucrats, Business, Advertisers, BAD Laws, Rough Parliamentarians, Etc...

sukarna acharya
sukarna acharya 9 years 6 months ago

We need full internet, no license for VOIP services. No need company sponsored free stuff which sucks money later.

raajeish99@gmail.com
Raajeish Shah 9 years 6 months ago

100% NET NEUTRALITY...

NO STRINGS ATTACHED, FREE 50 Mbps Speed, FREE 5 GB DATA With EVERY Mobile Connection Is a MUST...

TOTALLY AGAINST FREE BASIC As Suggested By Facebook... It's a TRICK To MONOPOLIZE, BLACKMAIL & CONTROL The CONSUMERS...

Deepali Hazare
Deepali Hazare 9 years 6 months ago

I support net neutrality. Completely against free basics.

Ankit M
Ankit M 9 years 6 months ago

NO,TSPs should not be allowed to have differential pricing for data usage for anything. Let the internet be as it is.

Md Khurshid Alam_1
Md Khurshid Alam_1 9 years 6 months ago

The TSPs should not be allowed to have differential pricing for different websites as this goes completely against the net neutrality. The most important thing to note here is it's a potential threat to fair competition in the market. Its not proper to allow few TSPs or other service providers to have the monopoly and control of the market. I am completely against free basics. #TRAI #DataServices #MyGov #SavetheInternet

ARUN KUMAR_396
ARUN KUMAR_396 9 years 6 months ago

can you take some step about porting in between dth service.as once we purchase a setup box it became monopoly situation so they do as per they want.and also stop free basics of internet.org,relience(free facebook).
we are now paying dth subscriber as per the pack rate but it is also a differential pricing like situation so if you can take some step and place this with charges for sd or hd(like in case of internet access charge varies for 2g 3g and 4g) but no packs like that.

ARUN KUMAR_396
ARUN KUMAR_396 9 years 6 months ago

lets take an example of power,if for every device what we use daily have different price for power consumption then do you think you can leave in this world,nops you can't? it is similar to like that.today internet became a basic necessity of life so we can't allow differential pricing
recently relience provide free facebook,then other company provide other services no body provide services to access trai and startup sites then do you think people go to their site by paying extra

ashish gupta_153
ashish gupta_153 9 years 6 months ago

No, TSPs should not be allowed to have differential pricing for data usage for accessing different websites, applications or platforms..i am totally against it...

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